"Cutting black carbon and other super pollutants is the critical next step in our program to combat climate change," Brown said at a signing ceremony near a Long Beach playground bordered by oil refinery smokestacks. "This bill curbs these dangerous pollutants and thereby protects public health and slows climate change."

The bill, SB 1383, reduces the emissions of super pollutants, known as short-lived climate pollutants, and promotes renewable gas by requiring a 50 percent reduction in black carbon and a 40 percent reduction in methane and hydrofluorocarbon from 2103 levels by 2030. Sources of these pollutants include petroleum-based transportation fuels, agriculture, waste disposal and synthetic gases used in refrigeration, air conditioning and aerosol products.

A copy of the legislation published by the California legislature explains the new law requires the California Air Resource Board to begin implementing a comprehensive strategy to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants by Jan. 1, 2018. The strategy is to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants to achieve a 40 percent reduction in methane emissions, a 40 percent reduction of hydrofluorocarbon gases, and a 50 percent reduction in anthropogenic black carbon by 2030, when compared to 2013 levels. In addition, the bill establishes targets for reducing organic waste in landfills.

The bill also requires CARB, in consultation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, to adopt regulations to reduce methane emission from livestock manure management operations and dairy manure management operations.

Under the law, state agencies are directed to consider and, as appropriate, adopt policies and incentives to significantly increase the sustainable production and use of renewable gas.

A full copy of the bill can be downloaded from the California Legislature’s website.